[Integration without equalization: on necessary modifications of therapeutic strategies in the treatment of migrants]

Given an increased knowledge for the special requirements of patients with a history of migration in mental health care, different approaches varying between an adaptation of existing systems and the implementation of specialized institutions are being discussed. The present study investigates the treatment courses of 55 first generation immigrants and a control sample of 55 native patients treated in a psychiatric day clinic of a university clinic. Besides the application of questionnaires concerning treatment outcome, a detailed content analysis of treatment records was performed investigating the preference for different therapeutic approaches, migration- and culture-related aspects as well as language problems. Treatment outcome and the reactions to different therapeutic strategies (i. e., verbal-oriented vs. body-centered approaches) suggest a good fit of a common treatment concept also for patients from different countries of origin and ethnic backgrounds. Qualitative analyses, however, imply that migration biography and cultural diversity should be included in diagnostic and therapeutic considerations to a much bigger extent. Language problems, in contrast, appeared to be less salient in the present study.